Homework for I.T. Apps

1. The Mouse What is the mouse? Who invented it? What does it do? Why do we need it?

2. THE MOUSE! In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative its supporting surface (a mouse pad) The name mouse, originated at the Stanford Research Institute, it use to have a cord at the back of the device which resembled a mouse tail.

3. THE HISTORY! The mouse use to just be a trackball, resembling a bowling ball (1952)It then became a wooden mouse, the first real mouse and this had the cord at the back (hence the name) The models have changed over the years but the shapes are relatively different, the newer models of today's age contain many technological updates!

4. HOW IT CAME TO BE! The trackball, the first version of the mouse was invented by Tom Cranston, Fred Longstaff and Kenyon Taylor who were working on the Royal Canadian Navy’s DATAR project in 1952. It used a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball. It was a secret military project.

5. HOW DOES IT WORK? Modern surface-independent optical mice work by using an optoelectronic sensor (laser) to take successive images of the surface on which the mouse operates. New image-processing chips were built in the mouse about a decade ago which allowed LED and lasers to come about. The amount of frames a mouse can process affects its speed, this will depend on the quality of the mouse.

6. WHY DO WE NEED IT? The mouse allows the user to operate on a GUI (graphics user interface) which is usually displayed via a monitor. It is possible to use a computer without a mouse or a touchpad (“laptops mouse”) as you can navigate with just the keys but that may be a little tricky for the average person. The mouse is necessary for precise and exact selection or pointing on a screen and makes everyday use of a computer easy!